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Simon Smale in Zhangjiakou

Tess Coady embraces power of positive thought to win snowboard slopestyle bronze at Beijing Winter Olympics

Tess Coady was all smiles after she claimed her bronze medal in Beijing. (AP: Francisco Seco)

Fairytales don't come any sweeter than this.

Four years ago Tess Coady was suffering as no athlete should have to suffer, watching on as her Olympic competitors carried on without her while she contemplated a lengthy spell on the sidelines and arduous rehabilitation.

Yesterday, she put those demons to rest, completing a run at the Zhangjiakou Genting Snow Park sufficient to qualify her for the final — her "redemption" from the agony of PyeongChang.

Today, she's an Olympic bronze medallist.

"That was crazy," Coady said in her own indomitable style.

"Honestly, words seriously can't describe.

"That was so sick."

The 21-year-old, who was carrying an ankle ligament injury she suffered in training, never looked worried, despite admitting she was stressed as one by one her competitors sent down their final runs.

In fact, Coady has been a picture of relaxation this whole competition, from "vibing with a bit of dancing and a bit of singing" while heading to the start on the chair lift, her wondrously effusive interviews – conducting them is already a highlight of this Games — right through to her exuberant celebrations.

In fact, she looked just as thrilled for Zoi Sadowski-Synnott winning gold as she did in claiming a medal herself, leading the pile-on that engulfed the Kiwi gold medallist after she landed her massive final back 10 jump.

Australia's Tess Coady (top) led the celebrations, piling onto Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, after the Kiwi won gold. (AP: Gregory Bull)

That might be a result of a premature maturity that comes from knowing how quickly dreams can be dashed at this level.

More likely, though, it is just a reflection on how much love these young women have for each other.

"That's what it's all about," Coady said.

On bronze medallist Julia Marino, she said: "I'm so hyped for her because she struggled last year to land stuff in competition, but when you watch her ride a snowboard she's just so talented.

"She deserved to be standing up there so much."

As was so memorably the case with the women skateboarders at the Tokyo Olympics, Coady and her fellow competitors enjoy a wonderful camaraderie.

Tess Coady left her best until last, delivering an 84.15-point run to clinch a bronze medal for Australia. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

There is a special synergy between the Aussie and the Kiwi though, the latter of whom wrote her own fairytale, adding a chapter to New Zealand's sporting history as the nation's first-ever Winter Olympic champion.

"Zoi is such a legend. She inspires me so much," Coady said.

"We've been super tight. It's really nice having a similar accent out there and someone who gets the culture you come from.

"It's so fun chasing her. She pushes the sport so much.

"I've shared a few podiums with her and it's always such a blast. She's so sick. She deserved it so much."

So too did Coady.

She's not the first athlete to successfully return from a serious injury to claim glory at the highest level, but only she knows how tough the road has been.

Coady admitted to doubts, saying without the support of the Australian set-up, she would not be where she was today.

"So it was really nice that people stuck with me and, yeah, I'm doing it for them."

That included Scotty James, who flew over to the slopestyle finish during his training for the half pipe to embrace Coady in a huge hug.

"Scotty was just like, 'Soak this up, it's so great,'" Coady said.

"He said he's super proud of me and it means so much. Scotty is such a legend.

"He's inspired me so much with my snowboarding, but he inspired me so much with the rehab of my knee.

"I would see him in the VIS gym in Melbourne just working his arse off, and to have someone like that to look up to has done wonders for me."

Being able to produce her best in an Olympic final took a weight off Tess Coady's shoulders. (AP: Francisco Seco)

So, if making today's final was redemption, then what was this?

"I don't even know," she said

"I was chatting to a friend last night and he said, 'You've earned your freedom from the last Olympics.'

"I was just going in today like, whatever, I'll just do what I can and have a good time."

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